THE tranquillity of Over Stowey would lead to boredom and then to crime if Quantock School became a first-stop for asylum seekers.

But the former boarding school would be set up with 15 members of staff including language teachers and would give traumatised families a chance to become working members of the community.

Those were the opposing arguments at a two-day public inquiry at which London-based charity Kaleidoscope appealed against planning refusal.

Sedgemoor District Council turned down Kaleidoscope's application in January to turn the former school in to a centre for asylum seekers.

The village has a population of 314 and the proposed number of asylum seekers is 74.

Councillors said it would be in breach of Home Office guidelines which recommend one asylum seeker to every 200 residents.

Matthew Reed, for Kaleidoscope, said: "What we are dealing with is a growing need for the accommodation of asylum seekers. This proposal has arisen as a result of this need."

He said the Government planned to spread asylum seekers around the country to ease pressure on the South East entry point. Quantock School would be a reception hostel.

Packed public meetings were held after Kaleidoscope's idea was first known and protests made at these included that property prices would be brought down.

The inquiry, heard by planning inspector Philip Wilson on Tuesday and Wednesday, was attended by 14 members of the public.

Mr David Brown, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said: "The first duty of a Government is to ensure the security of its citizens. At the end of the day, no-one is in a position to give a categorical guarantee that there will be no trouble.

"We felt there should be an adequate police presence to react at very short notice if necessary. How on earth, with their ever limited resources, will they be able to cope with an incident, should it occur, with asylum seekers?"

The nearest police station to Over Stowey is eight miles away, in Bridgwater, and the village does not have a shop, a post office or a pub.

The Victorian village, built by Lord Taunton in 1857, was once a thriving centre of the regional textile industry. But that was in its hey-day. It was sold in 1920 and now it is a dormitory village with most residents commuting to work elsewhere.

Kaleidoscope founder, Baptist minister the Rev Martin Blakeborough, said the former school was ideal as a hostel because it had a sports hall, gym, dormitories and classrooms.

He said up to three families would be based there for the first six months after arriving in England and those boarding full-time would receive meals on site.

Self-catering residents would be taken by minibus to Bridgwater, having been given vouchers to spend, and they would all be given English lessons.

After six months, they would be moved to bed and breakfast accommodation in Somerset to enable them to find work.

"I have no doubt we would provide a centre of excellence which could act as a model," said Mr Blakeborough.

"The overall aim is to provide an environment where people can access support and work through trauma in a tranquil environment."

Ward Cllr David Joslin said the school facilities were not enough to keep healthy adults occupied for six months: "How are they to pass the time?

"A group of healthy young people cannot be expected to play volleyball or swim all day and every day."

Quantocks School was founded and is still owned by David Peaster who is supporting the proposals. Mr Blakeborough told the inquiry that he knew about the premises because his uncle had been deputy head of the school.

Mr Wilson's decision will be made known at a later date.